Aldi United Kingdom to launch online operation in 2016

Cash-strapped shoppers helped the German supermarket chain, which has branches across Shropshire, notch sales of £6.89 billion – up from £5.27 billion past year.

Aldi is moving into online retail next year as it looks to build on its record annual sales in 2014. “As the grocery market continues to evolve, our unique model, operational efficiency, private ownership and financial strength mean we’re able to keep investing in our business – from people and presence to products and prices”.

“We refuse to be beaten on price by anyone”.

Wine by the case will be available for home delivery or collection, starting early in 2016, the retailer said in a statement Monday as it reported a 31 per cent increase in 2014 revenue.

During the same period, Aldi said it had invested a total of £878m in its United Kingdom expansion, following record capital expenditure of £438m in 2014 in new stores and regional distribution centres.

Matthew Barnes, CEO of Aldi United Kingdom & Ireland, said: “Our focus on offering the best-quality products and range at unbeatable, straightforward prices is bringing more and more shoppers through our doors, helping us to achieve consistent market-leading growth in sales”.

The United Kingdom could be set to gain another major online supermarket following an announcement from Aldi that it is readying an ecommerce push. Earlier this year, it overtook Waitrose to become Britain’s sixth largest supermarket.

Fellow research firm Neilsen also revealed last week that nearly half of United Kingdom households buying groceries are now visiting Aldi or its fellow low-priced German rival Lidl every month.

It hopes to increase its current roster of 598 stores to hit a target of 1,000 premises by 2022.

Aldi has also said it is in the process of expanding its United Kingdom operations, opening 65 new stores in the course of this year.

Industry figures estimate that Aldi will open more than five times the amount of new shop space compared to Tesco this year, and more than Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons combined.